VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2597, 20 October 1915, Page 6

VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Wellington Volunteer l r ire Police and Volunteer Fire Corps was held lost night. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and there was a full attendance of mem- • bers. . The annual report stated that the Volunteer Fire Police were entering upon their • sixteenth- jear of existence as a corps. Reference was made to tlie loss hy death of the treasurer, Mr. Folk Cohen, to-whom tho corps owed a debt of gratitude for the time, care, and patience lie put into the affairs of the corps. The total membership of tho corps was 23. . . The balance-sheet showed the receipts for the year to bo £37 lis. 3d against last year's total of £51 10s. 4d. The expenditure was £11 14s. 6d., as? against £53 18s. 6d. last year. Tliere would "remain over a cash balance of £65 17s. 6d., last year's balance having been £10.

The Mayor thanked the corps for their hearty co-operation with tlio City Brigade, and said ho was sure that tho good work of the past would bo repeated in future. Ho spoke of the great strain being put upon the London fire brigades by the Zeppelin raids, and said that he had read in tho English papers that the brigades, being unable to cope with the work, were being considerably'helped by fire police and by civilian helpers. Referring generally to the war, ho paid a' very high tributo to the 'fighting forces of the Empire. The British people, too, had risen magnificently to the noeds of the occasion, in organising industries for the carrying on of the war. Ho expressed a hope that the disappointing nows from the Dardanelles of late did not portend ultimate failure, and that the news would not have the effect of deterring tho young men of our country from going to help their comrades in the trenches. Anyone who could .. assist recruiting would be doing a service to tho Empire, and would be doing something to bring about such a conclusion of the war •as would bring peace to tho world. Whatever nations might join the enemy ho u-as sure that the Allies would come through the ordeal of stress and sacrifice to ultimate victory. He referred to the death of their esteemed treasurer (Mr. Folk Cohen), and ho asked the meeting to join in sending an expression of sympathy and condolence •to his daughter. Tho motion was supported by Captain Wright, and carried. 'The annual report was also adopted. Tho toasts of "The King," "Our Boys at tho Front," "The Fire Police and the Fire Brigade," "The Mayor aud Mayoress," "The Fire Brigade Committee," and "The Press" were honoured. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Captain, Mr. J. Wright; lieutenants, Messrs. Thos. Ballingor, Asher Asher, J. C. Cusack, and Alf. J. Short; honorary secretary, Mr. Horace D. Baker; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. T. Ballinger; auditors, Messrs. F. J. Ballmgor and W. J. Rowe.